New park puts demands on village

Published: Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 1:02 p.m.

Ever since Flat Rock incorporated in 1995, the village has focused on protecting its historic character, strictly controlling development and keeping taxes low. Frugality and affluence have always been hallmarks of Flat Rock, but now the village faces new challenges triggered by, of all things, dogs running loose at its new park.

Residents have complained about dogs running loose at the 66-acre site that formerly was Highland Lake Golf Club, but the village has had difficulty enforcing a rule that pets be leashed. “People have been pretty darn nasty and rude” when approached and told their unleashed dogs are breaking park rules, former councilman Dave Bucher said.

Bucher, chairman of Flat Rock's Park Advisory Board, suggested council designate about 6 acres in the back of the park as an area where dogs could be allowed to roam off-leash. But Councilwoman Anne Coletta opposed the idea because she says a fenced dog park isn't compatible with the “look and feel” envisioned for the property. “We're also rewarding people that are breaking the rules,” she said.

People who thumb their noses at the rules and behave badly should not be rewarded, it's true. But dog owners in and around Flat Rock should not be punished by the actions of a few scofflaws.

Dog parks are extremely popular, as evident by the hordes of people and pets using one that recently opened at the Mills River Park. They also help contain problems such as animal waste and dog-on-dog confrontations. Flat Rock Councilman Don Farr put it aptly by saying that “if you don't have a section designated for dogs, the whole park becomes a dog park.”

The debate over a designated dog park at Flat Rock points to a larger issue raised by Vice Mayor Nick Weedman: the village's lack of a “mechanism to enforce anything.” The village has a lengthy list of rules for the new park, including prohibiting remote control toys, but some people have also been flying model airplanes there.

The village is considering hiring a sheriff's deputy to help patrol the park but has not yet made that commitment.

These are just the beginning of increased responsibilities Flat Rock will face with its new park. Cost estimates for a new entrance road and parking area range from $747,000 to $930,000, while “net cumulative costs” of operating the park could reach $3.12 million by 2017, according to an analysis presented by Weedman.

Advocates of the village buying the land for the park, including Weedman, sold the idea to skeptical residents by pledging that no tax increase would be necessary to buy, operate and maintain the park if it was phased in over time. Now Weedman says the village should put a one-year moratorium on any new capital projects.

Flat Rock can put off some of these expenses for a while, but before long the park will require more staff and funding.

The village should continue to work to secure state grants for park development while accepting that the park will require additional village resources. With proper planning, the park will quickly become a treasured asset for residents.

<p>Ever since Flat Rock incorporated in 1995, the village has focused on protecting its historic character, strictly controlling development and keeping taxes low. Frugality and affluence have always been hallmarks of Flat Rock, but now the village faces new challenges triggered by, of all things, dogs running loose at its new park.</p><p>Residents have complained about dogs running loose at the 66-acre site that formerly was Highland Lake Golf Club, but the village has had difficulty enforcing a rule that pets be leashed. “People have been pretty darn nasty and rude” when approached and told their unleashed dogs are breaking park rules, former councilman Dave Bucher said.</p><p>Bucher, chairman of Flat Rock's Park Advisory Board, suggested council designate about 6 acres in the back of the park as an area where dogs could be allowed to roam off-leash. But Councilwoman Anne Coletta opposed the idea because she says a fenced dog park isn't compatible with the “look and feel” envisioned for the property. “We're also rewarding people that are breaking the rules,” she said.</p><p>People who thumb their noses at the rules and behave badly should not be rewarded, it's true. But dog owners in and around Flat Rock should not be punished by the actions of a few scofflaws.</p><p>Dog parks are extremely popular, as evident by the hordes of people and pets using one that recently opened at the Mills River Park. They also help contain problems such as animal waste and dog-on-dog confrontations. Flat Rock Councilman Don Farr put it aptly by saying that “if you don't have a section designated for dogs, the whole park becomes a dog park.”</p><p>The debate over a designated dog park at Flat Rock points to a larger issue raised by Vice Mayor Nick Weedman: the village's lack of a “mechanism to enforce anything.” The village has a lengthy list of rules for the new park, including prohibiting remote control toys, but some people have also been flying model airplanes there.</p><p>The village is considering hiring a sheriff's deputy to help patrol the park but has not yet made that commitment.</p><p>These are just the beginning of increased responsibilities Flat Rock will face with its new park. Cost estimates for a new entrance road and parking area range from $747,000 to $930,000, while “net cumulative costs” of operating the park could reach $3.12 million by 2017, according to an analysis presented by Weedman.</p><p>Advocates of the village buying the land for the park, including Weedman, sold the idea to skeptical residents by pledging that no tax increase would be necessary to buy, operate and maintain the park if it was phased in over time. Now Weedman says the village should put a one-year moratorium on any new capital projects.</p><p>Flat Rock can put off some of these expenses for a while, but before long the park will require more staff and funding.</p><p>The village should continue to work to secure state grants for park development while accepting that the park will require additional village resources. With proper planning, the park will quickly become a treasured asset for residents.</p>